Campbell, 31, arrived on Humberside for talks last week but disappeared after claiming he was going out to get lunch.

Blackburn boss Michael Appleton now hopes to conclude a loan deal for the QPR striker in the near future.

“I wasn’t there, I was in London trying to get the two Egyptian boys over, but he arrived on deadline day in his hotel with his advisors,” said Bruce.

“Our club president went to meet him there around midnight with our press officer to make sure the room was OK.

“We bought him a drink to welcome him and then we started negotiating with his advisors – and this is who I blame, I don’t blame DJ Campbell.

“We’d been speaking to them for about three weeks, waiting to see what was going to happen to QPR in the FA Cup.

“They travelled up for the medical and they then decide they were going to have a sandwich and resume talks after lunch. After the moment he left, I don’t think his advisors spoke to my chief executive at the stadium.

“It was either out of total disrespect or his advisors got a phone call from Blackburn and we couldn’t find him for two or three hours.”

Campbell’s arrival would have been a welcome boost for Hull, who have struggled for goals as of late.

However, it took them just 35 seconds to find the back of the net at The Den as David Meyler slotted home from Mark Beevers’ poor backpass.

It was Meyler’s first goal for the club since signing from Sunderland on a permanent basis in the transfer window.

“[Meyler’s] been a terrific acquisition for us, he’s had a really good start to his career,” Bruce said.

It was Millwall’s third successive Championship loss but Lions manager Kenny Jackett insists there were positives to draw on.

He said: “We haven’t had that energy for quite a number of weeks, we certainly haven’t had it in recent games.